Manipur Mulls Action Plan to Deal With Climate Change

IMPHAL: Environment experts in the country raised a number of concerns as they participated in the 2- day conference on climate change in Gujarat. Over 2 dozen ministers from the various states also focussed on some issues pertaining to climate.

Manipur minister Th Biswajit strongly advocated State Action Plan on Climate Change version as he was participating in the conference. He said that the action plan in Manipur would to be released as a state policy document very soon.

The conference was aimed at creating further synergy in the state and Central level. The speakers in the conference stressed upon formulation of better policies on issues which include elimination of plastic pollution through a multi-pronged approach.

Some other states further dwelled on State Action Plans to efficiently deal with Climate Change with an environment- friendly lifestyle. This was apart from the focus on increasing the forest cover with particular emphasis on restoration of degraded land and wildlife conservation.

The conference had 6 sessions with topics focusing on Life, Combating Climate Change (Updating State Action Plans on Climate Change for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate Impacts); PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances); Forestry Management; Prevention and Control of Pollution; Wildlife Management; Plastics and Waste Management.

Apart from minister Biswajit, MLA Usam Deven, additional chief secretary (Forests, Environment and Climate Change), M H Khan, Aditya Joshi, Brajakumar represented Manipur.

In his opening address, Modi lamented the fact that for a long time the environment ministries got shaped more as a regulator. However, he said, "I think that the role of the environment ministry is more as a promoter of the environment rather than as a regulator."

He asked the states to implement measures like Vehicle Scrapping policy, and bio-fuel measures like ethanol blending and strengthen them on the ground.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the conference virtually, in presence of Union forests and environment and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav.

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